Happy Birthday

To those who have diligently been coming back for for - I have just three things to say. 1) Thank you - this is my first naru fic and the 1st i've ever posted on the web - thanks for all the reviews they are very encouraging. 2) I'm sorry to those of you that i made cry - but i did warn you. imagine how hard it was for me to type that am not cry just so that i would be able to see the screen. 3) i know i promised only 4 chapters but unfortunately i am going to have to change that to 5 and 1/2(epilogue - very short). As it is part 4 is 15 pages long. But i hope you enjoy it. part 5 will be a lot shorter than all the others.

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Happy Birthday
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Rolling over from his position on the couch, Naruto glanced up at the clock nearby. The time displayed read to be 7:45 p.m. Outside, the sun was beginning to lower. The sky outside was still blue, dark blue, but blue nonetheless.

On the table in the kitchen sat a beautifully decorated cake that he had made by himself. There were candles sitting on top, already positioned and just waiting to be lit. Right beside it were the two presents that he had bought and wrapped just the day before.

He had honestly hoped that with as close as Team 7 had gotten to be, that some things would have changed. But nothing has. He was still the number one most despised ninja in Kohona. No one knows, and probably no one even cared that today was his birthday.

Naruto sighed. He had tried so hard to work up the courage to invite his team over to celebrate. Though, honestly, if he was really being truthful with himself, he would admit that the only one that he had really wanted to come over was Sasuke. It would have still been nice to have Sakura come as well.

He had just really wished that the team would be close enough, that they would have been will to try and find out when his birthday was on their own. And maybe even try and surprise him.

But that wasn’t going to happen. Not to him. It didn’t seem to matter that every year he would send them gifts on their birthdays. Hell, he sent gifts to all of his friends on their birthdays. That included Gaara and his sand siblings.

Unfortunately, even with all of the friends that Naruto had finally managed to gain over the last few years, it was still apparent that he was still despised. Oh, he had tried several times to try and tell Sasuke - to invite him to celebrate. Hell, he figured that if he could ask Sasuke - his secret crush - then asking anyone else would be a breeze. However, as luck would have it, the more he had tried the harder it was. In the end he would end up losing his nerve.

Take today for example. When Sasuke had taken him out to eat. At first he had been happy, Sasuke had been willing to feed him. Only later, when Sasuke reminded him of his promise, did Naruto begin to have doubts. He believed that Sasuke was treating him merely to clear his debt, not because he wanted to as a friend. It had really hurt to be consider as nothing more than a debt to be paid.

Then while they were eating, he was going to ask. But ever time he was about to, he would recall how Sasuke how Sasuke had claimed to be paying off his debt and it would make him insecure. If Sasuke saw him as a debt to be paid off, then would he even consider him a friend he would be willing to celebrate a birthday with? He had become so depressed that he had barely even touched his food.

But afterwards, when Sasuke had returned the money that he had paid at the store yesterday, he was shocked. Mainly because he realized that the black-haired boy had to have followed him. He was filled with both dread and anger at the same time. He was angry because the other boy had been so bold as to follow him, but he was filled with dread because he knew that Sasuke had to have witnessed the incident with the lady at the register. But both emotions had quickly over taken by shock once more, when he realized that the pale boy had actually stood up for him. All that he needed as proof, lay directly in his hands. The cash that he had been over charged and the receipt for all things that he had bought.

All of that was nice and all, but in compared to nothing when he thought about how Sasuke had leaned in close to him and had whispered into his ear. Just the feel of his warm breath as it ghosted over his ear when Sasuke spoke was more than enough to shut his brain down. He had nearly fallen off of his stool.

It wasn’t until after Sasuke had disappeared in that cloud of smoke, that his mind was able to make sense of what it was that Sasuke had said. “Next time, be more careful and don’t let people overcharge you. You work hard for your money, don’t let people cheat you out of it.” Those words and Sasuke’s actions had been more than enough to clear Naruto’s mind of all his doubts.

Immediately he had left his stool, and had rushed thru the dissipating smoke in one last effort to ask Sasuke to celebrate his birthday with him. He had searched everywhere that he could think of that the dark-haired Uchiha might have gone. But it was no use, he never found the black-eyed genius.

So, now, here he was sitting at home, alone, on his birthday. Just like in the past. And just like in the past, no one was going to come either. Not even Iruka, especially since he had asked the chuunin teacher no to come. Not when he had hoped to have other company tonight.

Looking back up at the cake and the two gifts once more, Naruto felt his eyes start to moisten. Wiping desperately at the water that was trying to fill his eyes, Naruto growled. He refused to cry.

Suddenly jumping to his feet, Naruto looked around the room. He couldn’t stay. It - It was too frustrating to stay. Too . . . Too depressing. He - He had to leave. Now. He had to get out. To get away.

‘But . . . but where can I go?’ Thought the blonde, as he began nervously pacing about the room. ‘I can’t go to Iruka’s, I’m not a kid any more. Besides, I was the one who asked him not to come over. And none of the others know. . . Humph, probably don’t even care.’

As he paces by the table, the cake and the two gifts catch his eyes once again. Naruto looked beyond the two items to the window and the sky outside. Already the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky red. A dark, blood red. Without another moments hesitation, Naruto ran to his door. Whipping it open, he rushed out into the night. ‘I don’t care where I go! I just can’t stay here!’


(Author’s note: What would you do if I ended it here? - as much as I would love to, I promised that it would only be 4 chapters - so I won’t. But I really, really wanted to!)

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Upon leaving Iruka’s company, Sasuke headed straight for Naruto’s apartment. He was halfway there before he realized that he was forgetting something. ‘It’s his birthday! - I need a gift! But what can I get for him on such short notice?’

That’s when he remembered the little pawn shop that Naruto had stopped at the other day. Crossing his fingers, for luck, Sasuke altered his route just a little. Perhaps he could make it there before they closed.

Landing in front of the small store, Sasuke sighs in relief. It was still open. Glancing at the sign posted on the door, the pawn shop was going to be closing in fifteen minutes. He didn’t have a lot of time, but with a little luck, he may just find what he’s looking for.

Entering the store, Sasuke immediately begins hunting for what it was that had caught the eye of his dobe. He searched the entire store for a good ten minutes and was about to give up hope when he happened to glance towards the showcase at the front of the store. Enraptured, Sasuke found himself moving towards the glass, as if pulled by some unseen force. Kneeling, Sasuke tried to get a better look at what lay inside.

It was about this time, that the store owner came out of one of the back rooms and saw Sasuke starring at what was in his showcase. Laughing softly, the burly store owner made his way to the showcase. Startled by the laughter, Sasuke looked up.

“You know, just seeing you staring at those two reminds me of another young boy that always stops by and does the same thing. I honestly think that he would stand in front of my shop all day starring at those two if I would let him. Unfortunately, whenever he hangs around, all of my customers leave. Don’t know why, though, but after a while I have to go out and chase him off. I hate doing it though, but I have to if I want to stay in business, you know?”

Sasuke nodded in understanding. He knew that the ‘young boy’ had to be Naruto. And as he stared at the two objects in the display, he now knew why it was that Naruto had stayed so long yesterday. And he didn’t blame the blonde in the least.

“Are they real?” he asked softly, as he placed a hand over the scratched glass in an effort to touch the two objects.

“Oh, yes! Both 100% genuine!” declared the shop owner proudly, as he smiled down at Sasuke.

In just a split second, Sasuke’s mind was made up. “How much?”

At that, the shop owner stopped smiling. “You can’t be serious. There’s no way a scamp like you could ever afford those. They’re extremely rare and very expensive! Plus, they were designed by the best!”

“How much?” demanded Sasuke again, never once taking his eyes off of the two precious items behind the glass.

Scratching his chin thoughtfully, the shop owner regarded Sasuke carefully. Seeing that the boy was actually serious, the owner relented and named the marked price. “Five thousand dollars.* Five thousand dollars for each of them, that is, and not a penny less.”

Standing up, Sasuke reached over the counter and grabbed a pen, one of the business cards out of it holder, and a piece of nearby paper. He quickly wrote out an I.O.U., or letter of debt, and signed his name. Turning, he then handed the store owner the piece of paper. “This letter can be taken to the local bank of Kohona. Just present the president of the bank with this letter and you will be paid in full.”

Oh, his family had a normal bank account, just like everyone else in the village. The only difference was that not all of it was in the bank. His family had never fully trusted banks, so the bulk of the Uchiha wealth was still hidden away. Mainly in each of the individual families secret vaults. Of course, only an Uchiha would know how to access those vaults.

“Hey, kid. You can’t really expect me to-”

Sasuke’s glare, stopped the man cold. “Oh, I can and I do,” stated Sasuke firmly, as his eyes flashed red. “Believe me when I say that it would not be wise to claim that a member of the Uchiha clan can’t - and won’t be able to pay such a debt.”

Upon hearing the name Uchiha, and seeing the red flash in the boy’s eyes, the pawn shop owner was momentarily startled. Knowing that the boy spoke the truth, the man accepted the letter. Walking around to the back side of the counter, the man opened his register and placed the letter of debt inside. Then, he turned and pulled out a set of keys. Kneeling down, the owner unlocked the glass show case and reached inside. Carefully, the man took the two items out and began to wrap them.

It wasn’t as if the two items were made of glass. But there were indeed rare, like he had said. No doubt the boy would be displease should the two items end up damaged in any way. The store owner wasn’t going to take that chance.

When he finished wrapping the two items, he walked into the room behind the register and retrieved a box. Bring it back to the counter with him, he placed the two objects inside and began stuffing the box. There was no way he was going to make a bad impression on such a profitable customer. Only once the owner was sure that the items would be safe from harm, did the man close the lid and slid across the counter to the black-haired youth.

Please, with the owners care, Sasuke nodded up at the man. Taking the box, Sasuke left the store, but as he did so he made a mental note to send a letter to the bank to add just a little bit extra money to what he already owed the shop owner.

Closing the door after the young genin, the owner locked it and flipped around his sign. With a sigh of relief, the man leaned against the door. He smiled as he watched the heir of the Uchiha clan race down the street. ‘Maybe now that they’re gone, maybe my business will pick back up again,’ thought the man happily. The two items had caused him enough problems as it was, but when the young blonde had started to hang around, things had gotten worse. Now, perhaps things would start to get better. (AN: Can anyone venture a guess as to what it is that Sasuke bought? - might just have to make it five chapters - that way I can reveal it as an epilogue! Try and guess if you can!)

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On swift but silent feet, Sasuke continues on his way to Naruto’s. Upon arriving at the small and sorry excuse of an apartment, Sasuke immediately knew that it was empty. Just to be on the safe side though, he decided it would be best to do a search any ways.

Slipping in through the bedroom window, the black-haired youth began a methodical inspection of the apartment. Since it was nothing more than a small three room apartment - he search didn’t last very long. All he found, were the two presents and cake that had a small slice missing. But there was no sign of Naruto.

Before crawling back out the bedroom window, Sasuke takes one last look around the empty apartment, hoping for some small clue as to where his dobe could be. Not seeing anything that could tell him where his blonde had gone, Sasuke climbed back out the window.

He doesn’t know why, but something didn’t feel right. And he knew that nothing would feel right until he found Naruto. Found him, and made sure that he was safe and alright. (AN: This would have been another good place to stop!)

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Desperate just to get out of his apartment and the depressing mood inside, Naruto had wandered the darkening, quiet streets of Kohona lost in his own thoughts.

‘Lost . . .’

That was pretty much how he felt.

‘Lost . . . and alone. Like some little kid in a store that had gotten separated from his parents. Unfortunately, for me, My ‘store’ is a hell of a lot bigger. . . . and, there is no one out here waiting for me, either.’

Surprisingly, when Naruto looked up and tried to focus on where he was, he couldn’t help but smile. Even in his depressed state of mind, he had subconsciously brought himself to the best place in all of Kohona that would help him the most. For right in front of him, stood the three posts that marked team 7's area of the training grounds.

Immediately, Naruto rushes toward the middle post and lets into it. Giving himself free reign to do as he pleases, the blonde used the post as a target to receive the full brunt of his depression, frustration, tension, and anger. Letting go of all his restraints, and lowering all his emotional walls - Naruto finally gave voice to his true feelings as he pushed his body through the many different attacks and techniques that he knew.

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Sasuke was about to give up and head back to Naruto’s place and was going to just wait for the blonde to return home. But every time he was about to give in, something inside would push him. Urging him to continue.

Finally, as a last resort, Sasuke headed for the training grounds. It was the last place he could think of, that Naruto might have gone.

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Shortly after entering the forest, Sasuke was able to hear the sounds of combat. Worried that Naruto might actually be in trouble, Sasuke took to the path at a run. As he got closer to the clearing of the three posts, the Uchiha ducked into the shadows. His black hair and dark clothes helping him to blend in better, even if his pale skin didn’t. Masking his chakra, just in case Naruto was in trouble, the genin cautiously made his way to the clearing.

When he reached the edge of the forest, and looked out over the clearing, he found himself unable to move. Mesmerized, all the genius could do was stare.

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Growling out in anger, Naruto attacked the middle post with such single-minded determination that not even Ero-sannin would have been willing to stop him. The blonde was relentless in his attacks. Throwing all of his anger and frustration at that one post, Naruto raged wildly.

If the villagers ever saw him, they would no doubt try and kill him - out of their fear that he was either releasing the fox on purpose or that it was escaping on it’s own. Either way, they wouldn’t think twice about the body or the life of the boy that was the vessel for the kyubbi.

He pushes on even though his knuckles are bruised, a few of them even bleeding. He continues even though his legs are beginning to go numb and are becoming sore.

Finally, Naruto’s anger gives out to exhaustion. His knees collapsing, Naruto just barely manages to catch himself on the post. Out of breath from his heated work out, Naruto slides down the post to his knees.

While trying to calm his body, his depression comes upon him in his moment of weakness. Without hi anger and frustration to keep his depression at bay, Naruto was defenseless. Closing his eye at the emotional pain that filled his being, two tears slipped out as Naruto punched the post, in an effort to still try and hold back his emotions.

As pain flooded his hand, Naruto’s depression receded a little. Encouraged, he pushed off of the post and climbed back on to his feet. Taking up his normal fighting stance, Naruto once more faced the post.

“Why am I ALWAYS alone!?” demanded the blonde youth as he punched the post again. Moving back, he rushed forward, he foot going high as he landed a high kick. “Why does no one CARE!?”

Falling back a step, Naruto punched at the post again, but this time it was followed by a swift kick to the right side and two more punches. “Am I truly just a MONSTER!? Is that ALL they SEE?!?”

Stepping forward again, Naruto ranged a series of kicks down the side of the post. Going from the top to the bottom, the blue-eyed boy sent a series of punches to his ‘victim’s’ gut only to follow through with another kick and punch combo. “Can’t they SEE? . . . I’M . . .Not a . . .MONSTER! . . . .I’M . . . HUMAN!!!!”

“Don’t I have a . . . RIGHT to my own . . . HAPPINESS!?” Continued the youth, as he twisted his body and slammed his elbow the side of the post. Spinning back around to face the post, his right leg shot on in a low kick to the post’s ‘feet.’ Jumping to his own feet, Naruto raised his knee, aiming for the ‘groin’ of his ‘victim.’

Huffing from the exertion, Naruto paused. Drawing in deep breathes, he straightened. Raising his hads again, the kyubbi vessel lashed out with another punch. “Is it . . . (pant) too much to ask . . to not be (pant) FORGOTTEN!” Ducking, the blonde avoid an imaginary fist. Spinning he let fly a low kick and surged forward with an uppercut.

Drawing back, Naruto sent a double punch flying to the ‘solar plexis’ of the post. Aiming at kick at the post’s right side, Naruto spun around to deliver another kick to the left side of the posts ‘head.’ “Why can’t (pant) . I . . be like EVERY(pant)ONE . . . (pant) ELSE!?” raged the genin.

“I want (huff) . . Friends!” Diving to the ground, Naruto braced both of his hands. Kicking up both feet, the blonde then pushed off of his hands only to have his feet connect with the ‘chest’ of the post. Pushing off of the post, Naruto twisted in the air. Bringing his hands into play, he grabbed the top of the post and pushed off yet again. This time, however, he flipped in the air only to come down on the backside of the post.

“I want (huff) to be (pant) . . . able to (huff) celebrate (pant) my . . . birth(pant)day!” Bringing up his leg, Naruto rammed his knee into the ‘spine’ of the post. Sending out a rapid two hit combo, the sweating youth reached into his back pocket and pulled out a kunai. Jumping into the air, Naruto kicked out and pushed off of the ‘back’ of the post. Using the extra force, the blonde sent his body into a falling spin. His target firmly fixed in his mind, Naruto closed his eyes and sent the kunai flying.

<> THUNK! <>

Panting heavily, Naruto landed in a low crouch. Staring up at kunai buried in the post, the blonde tried desperately to refill his lungs with air. Slowly the youth rose. Walking up to the post, the blonde reached out a hand. As he gripped the handle of his kunai, he words fell from trembling lips even as his eyes began to mist. “I . . (pant) I just . . I just want (pant) . . . just want to be . . (pant) . . to . . to be . . normal!”

Pulling the kunai from the wood, Naruto lets two tears fall. With the kunai still in hand, he props himself up against the post. Using his arm as a cushion, the blonde lowers his head while he rests. As he does so, he begins to remember.

He remembers what his life was like back before Team 7 had been formed. Back even before he had met Iruka. Two more tears silently fall.

He then remembers Sasuke. He recalled just how many times he had tried to work up the courage to invite him over to celebrate his birthday. He even remembered all of his insecurities and doubts that had eventually becomes the reasons that he had been unable to ask the Uchiha anything.

Frustrated with his own lack of courage, Naruto punched the post again. This time, however, he had had the kunai inside of his fist. The burning pain that raced up from his arm was more than enough to tell the boy that he had managed to break thru skin on at least three of his knuckles. “Why?”

Pushing away from the wood, Naruto jumped, sending a flying kick aimed straight at the ‘head’ of the post. “WHY!?” he demanded to the night air, as he lashed out with a double punch to the ‘gut’ following through with a low swing kick to the ‘knees.’ “WHY COULDN’T I JUST ASK!?!?”

“WHY HIM?” Sending his fist flying into what would have been an amazing uppercut, the blonde kicked off of the ground. Twisting his body, his left leg shot out in a roundhouse kick. While still in the air, Naruto pulled out three black shurikens and let them loose. As he landed, he saw that each one of his shurikens had hit his exact marks. They fell in a straight row down the post’s back.

“WHY DOES IT MATTER!?” yelled the blonde. Heedless of any cuts that he might receive, Naruto swept his free hand up the back of the wood. As he did so, he grabbed a shuriken between his fingers as his hand passed over them, without ever even slowing down he pulled the each one out of the wood.

Once tucked between his fingers once more, Naruto dropped to the ground. Rolling as if to avoid a kick to his head, the blonde came back to his feet. He was back to where had been, he was back to standing in front of the post. Using the clutched shurikens like claws, Naruto slashed out with right hand. Imbedded in the grains of the wood, lay three parallel shallow, but long groves.

“WHY?!” Bringing up his right hand, still holding the kunai, Naruto attacked. His strike, left in its wake a groove that was perfectly perpendicular to the three slashing marks left by the shurikens. “WHY COULDN’T I JUST ASK HIM!?”

“Of all people,” continued the blonde, as he jumped back. Both arms flung out to either side, as if to catch someone, Naruto gripped his weapons tightly as he ignore the trails of water that flowed from his eyes. Then with a roar, he raised both arms. Crossing one over the other as he sent the projectiles flying at the post. “WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE HIM!?!?”

Landing in a crouch, Naruto looked up at the post. Panting hard, all Naruto could do was stare. There in the center of ‘x’ that he had unintentionally made with the kunai and shurikens, was his kunai. Around it, forming a simple triangle, were the three shurikens.

Sinking to his knees, Naruto ignored the tears as they continued to fall. Bowing his head, Naruto’s hands clenched into tight fists in the grass at his sides. “Why? . . . Why was it so hard?”

Slowly climbing back to his feet, Naruto approached the thick post. Wiping the tears from his eyes, the youth reached up and grab a hold of the lowest shuriken. Tugging on it carefully, he pulled it out of the wood. His energy spent, the blonde grew quiet as he let his sadness return.

Reaching up for the second one, Naruto pulled it out of the wood as well. Placing it in his other hand, He grabbed for the third. Pulling it free, he tucked the three back inside of his weapons pouch.

His shurikens now gone, he stared up at the kunai. Stretching out his hand, he grasp the hilt. As he tugged on the iron dagger, he softly spoke. Admitting to himself the one thing that he had truly wanted. “All I wanted . . was to . . . to just -”

“To just . . . what?”

Startled, Naruto released his hold on the kunai and turned. ‘I know that voice!’ he thought. His eyes widened as he was able to make out the form that lay hidden in the shadows at the edge of the forest’s clearing.

“S - S - Sasuke!?” squeaked the blonde, nervously. “Wh - What are you doing here?”

Stepping free of the shadows as if he were out of some mystical dream, Naruto stood there mesmerized as Sasuke drew closer.

“Heh. I could ask you the same thing,” replied the pale youth, easily deflecting the prior question without answering. Continuing across the clearing, Sasuke headed straight for Naruto. But even as he drew closer to the other shinobu, Sasuke saw that for every ten steps he took - Naruto took one as well, except that his was backing him away. He continued to back away until he backed himself right into the post behind him.

He was about to try and dodge around the post, but Sasuke was faster. Moving swiftly on silent feet, Sasuke trapped the poor blonde between himself and the post.

“So,” started Sasuke, “What was it that you were saying? Before I interrupted, that is.”

Trapped and nervous, Naruto glanced about in hopes of finding some means of escape. “Wh - What do you mean, Sasuke?”

Sasuke was unable to stop the smirk that touched his lips, even though he did try. But he failed. Naruto just looked so cute when he was nervous and had been caught off guard. “You were yelling about asking someone something, weren’t you?”

Naruto gulped.

“Well what was it all about?”

“N-N-Nothing, Sasuke. Honest,” swore the blonde as he desperately tried to find some means to escape by.

“Che. Like I’m buying that, dobe. With the way you’ve been acting lately? Guess again.”

Gradually, Naruto began to get quiet. He normally brilliant, blue eyes became downcast and shadowed. Concerned, Sasuke leaned in closer to unusually quiet blonde. He was no more than a centimeter away when he continued his questioning; but this time, his words were softer, gentler. “So? What was it?”

Naruto, who was lost once again in his own pathetic hopelessness, jumped at the sound of Sasukes voice so near. Looking up, Naurto froze.

Sasuke looked so beautiful under the moonlight. The way the moonlight cast a pale glow over his skin. The way his eyes shimmered like dark pools of water as they gazed back at him from the shadows caused by his bangs. He was just so beautiful, that all Naruto could do was stare.

“Well, what was it that you had wanted to ask?” pressed Sasuke.

His voice was so soft and so close that it sent shivers down Naruto’s spine. Naruto would have been content just to stand there and listen to that vice for all of eternity; but he knew that Sasuke could be just as persistent as he was when it came to something that he wanted to know about.

Looking up at the stars, Naruto sighed. Some god up there must be laughing their butt off due to his predicament. And with his luck, they probably had this planned from the very beginning. Cause here he was, on his birthday, with the one person that he had wanted to invite over to his apartment to celebrate – and he was totally clueless!

And Sasuke wants to why he’s upset? He wants Naruto to talk about exactly what it was that the blonde had been unable to ask him in the first place?

‘IRONY – you’ve just got to love it,’ growled the blonde to himself.

Taking a deep breathe, Naruto resigned himself to his ‘fate.’ “I . . . I wanted to ask a friend or two to come over today.”

Surprised, Sasuke leaned back a little, giving the blonde some space. “Heh. Is that all?” Obviously, the Uchiha was unimpressed.

“To tell the truth, I really would not of minded if the others were there or not, had I actually asked anyone. But . . ,” nervously the blonde glanced over at his black-haired companion. “There . . . there was one person that I had specifically wanted to ask, but . . I . . I got scared. So scared that I was unable to ask anyone. Not even that one person I wanted to ask the most.”

Sasuke stared at the blonde for a moment. “Why did you want everyone to come over? Did you have something going on?” inquired the youth innocently, as he eased back some more.

Thankful for the extra space, Naruto slid down the post until he was seated on the ground at its base. But as he heard Sasuke’s question, a sharp pain of loneliness went through him. ‘How do you tell the one person you like, what you wanted to say when you no longer can?’ wondered Naruto, sadly. Schooling his face so that none of the turmoil and pain that he was feeling inside would show, Naruto looked up at Sasuke.

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Sasuke barely managed to keep from falling to his knees in front of the blonde. - He had always heard the old saying about how the eyes are the windows to one’s soul - but he had never really understood what it meant. Not until now.

Though Naruto’s face showed no outward sign of what he was feeling - those deep blue eyes, eyes deep enough to drown in - held a sadness that dulled their normal brightness. Eyes that once seemed so full of life, were now empty of such joy. Now they were too much like his own black eyes were once like - full of loneliness and pain.

Mesmerized and in shock, Sasuke was unable to turn away from those eyes. Finally, it was Naruto who broke the eye contact and looked away. “Yeah, you could say that I had something planned,” added his blonde softly.

“Is it important?” inquired Sasuke.

Slowly the blonde nodded. “It was to me.”

Silence fell between the two while Sasuke struggled to figure out a way to ask his next question without making Naruto suspicious. After a few minutes, he settled with the easiest and most simple. “So, who was it?”

Startled by the unexpected question, Naruto looked back up at the pale ninja. “N-Na-NANI?!”

“Who was it that you had wanted to ask?” clarified Sasuke, as he knelt down next to the whiskered blonde. “Neji? Kiba? Lee, perhaps? What about Shikamaru or Ino? Or could it have been Hinata?”

Slowly, Naruto shakes his head ‘no.’ Refusing more and more as Sasuke listed each of their friends. “They are all friends,” he finally admits, “But none of them is the one person that I wanted to ask.”

“Then what about Sakura? You do have a crush on her, don’t you?”

“I used to,” confided Naruto, “But now I’m not so sure.”

“Then . . . perhaps it is Iruka-sensei?”

Naruto fell silent. - Sasuke smiled to himself.
They both knew that after Iruka - the only person left - was Sasuke.

“It’s Iruka, isn’t it? Damn, dobe, I had thought that the two of you could talk to each other about anything.”

Naruto said nothing. He just merely turned his head away, sadly.

Getting up, Sasuke stretched out his muscles that had started to tighten while his was kneeling beside Naruto. Looking back down at his teammate, Sasuke spoke. “Honestly, Naruto, if its that important to you, I believe that you should try and ask again.”

Surprised by the honest advise, the blue-eyed boy stared up at him. “Really?”

Sasuke nods, “Hai. I really think that you should.”


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Thanks sadistickiss, mija, oraday, hina88 and everyone else. The reviews are very encouraging for a first-timer. Sorry to have to leave it here - but school and work come first! I'm off tomorrow so maybe i'll get the rest finished.

* - if any one knows what the equivalent of $10,000 is in yen I would really like to know. It just sounds wrong to use the American unit.

til next update, je ne!